Method of treating postural reflex abnormality caused by parkinson's disease

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a more effective therapeutic agent capable of improving and treating the axial symptoms (particularly freezing of gait symptom) of patients with Parkinson's disease. Such symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease can be improved and treated by using L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine (DOPS) and a COMT inhibitor in combination together, optionally with an L-DOPA preparation as well. As a result, the axial symptoms difficult to improve with conventional L-DOPA preparations can be treated, and a therapeutic agent and a treatment method are provided for the axial symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease, particularly those suffering from the disease at a moderate level or higher.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating an axial symptom of Parkinson's disease comprising administering a combination of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine and a COMT inhibitor to a patient exhibiting the axial symptom of the disease. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the COMT inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of entacapone and tolcapone. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the COMT inhibitor is entacapone. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine and the COMT inhibitor are administered in the same formulation. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine and the COMT inhibitor are administered in separate formulations. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the combination further includes a dopamine nerve activator. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the dopamine nerve activator comprises L-DOPA. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine the COMT inhibitor, and the dopamine nerve activator are administered in the same formulation. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine the COMT inhibitor, and the dopamine nerve activator are administered in two or three separate formulations. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient exhibits the axial symptom of the disease at a moderate level or higher as indicated by a Hoehn & Yahr scale score of not less than III or daily living ability grade of not less than II. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial symptom exhibited by the patient is selected from the group consisting of gait disturbance, abnormal postural sway, and freezing of gait. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the axial symptom exhibited by the patient is freezing of gait. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient exhibits a Hoehn & Yahr scale score of III or above, exhibits the axial symptom of freezing of gait, and is diagnosed to be “freezing often” or “freezing always” in the off state as evaluated according to a freezing of gait evaluation scale. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient has previously been diagnosed as being non-responsive to L-DOPA therapy. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising administering an L-DOPA preparation, L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine and entacapone. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine is administered in a sustained-release form. 
     
     
       17. The method according to clam  1 , wherein the L-threo-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylserine is administered in an immediate-release form. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the combination is administered in two or more daily doses.